Some in-depth questions about Receptor

[DanTimis]

Or what about connecting external devices via USB2.0. That wouldn't lower the noise in some cases, but then again raise the capacity (though I can guess that this won't work either due to driver issues as every HDD has it's own drivers and certain VSTi installations).

You can connect a USB 2.0 external hard drive right now. Only the internal drive has to be formatted by us.

The USB 2.0 connection is not fast enough for samplers that stream from the hard drive. You could store all the samples that require streaming on the internal drive, and the samples that can be played from RAM on the external hard drive.

[Bryan@MuseResearch]

Hi again

Okay, I'll try to tackle all your questions, and keep some semblance of organization in the process!

1. We are testing, and plan to certify, larger hard drives for use in Receptor. This includes 200, 300, and 400GB models. However, we are _not_ willing to certify these until they pass our testing, and we are testing as we speak ( in fact, there is a unit beside me now that has a larger drive that I am testing!)

2. Orientation of the unit: Normal orientation is horizontal in a rack, however, we have run units vertically for extended periods. The drives don't really care about this, they are happy to run horizontally or vertically. If you are going to have a Receptor on its side, we recommend that the system exhaust fan be on the top of the unit, after all, heat rises, and be sure not to block the side air intake vents - these are important for proper air flow inside Receptor. Besides the hard drive orientation and the fact that heat rises, there are no real orientation restrictions on Receptor, although now that I think about it, I think we would want to discourage people from mounting these upside down due to the fact that this might affect the cooling design. I'd have to think about that, and it might make for an interesting test!

3. Custom unit pricing. Good ideas, but for right now, it is done on a custom order basis, so it is difficult to print a price list at this time with the options listed.

4. UniWire: I guess I wasn't very clear... UniWire is schedule for release within the next month, so it will happen a lot sooner than you think, providing things go well in testing. And UniWire is FREE update to all Receptor users!

Basically, you will download the new system software which adds UniWire to Receptor, and then you will download the VST plug-ins that allow you to talk to Receptor via your computer host. And we also plan to have AU and RTAS support as well, so it will work with any host program on the Mac or the PC!

Thanks for the compliments on our support. We try really hard to treat people the way we'd like to be treated, after all, everyone at Muse are musicians themselves, so we know what its like to be a customer as well!

Cheers

Bryan

P.S. By the way, I didn't realize you were from Nurenberg. My wife and I visited there a couple of years ago. What a great City! There's also a great percussion store in town off the main store (I play drums). Great place!

[Compyfox]

You can connect a USB 2.0 external hard drive right now. Only the internal drive has to be formatted by us.

The USB 2.0 connection is not fast enough for samplers that stream from the hard drive. You could store all the samples that require streaming on the internal drive, and the samples that can be played from RAM on the external hard drive.

Hm... Well USB2.0 is capable os 20MB/s (fastest peak I could get was 24MB/s). But I kinda understand the problem here again with the specific drivers for each unique HDD. I guess external devices are only interesting at the moment for quick installing of samples or VSTi's.

Still interesting what might be possible with further software upgrades. Hm... I guess I haev to wait on that though.

1. We are testing, and plan to certify, larger hard drives for use in Receptor. This includes 200, 300, and 400GB models. However, we are _not_ willing to certify these until they pass our testing, and we are testing as we speak ( in fact, there is a unit beside me now that has a larger drive that I am testing!)

Interesting. I'm curious of the results and can wait how it turns out - especially if it's possible to actually "use" bigger HDDs. I'm a bit short on money anyway atm.

2. Orientation of the unit: ...Besides the hard drive orientation and the fact that heat rises, there are no real orientation restrictions on Receptor, although now that I think about it, I think we would want to discourage people from mounting these upside down due to the fact that this might affect the cooling design. I'd have to think about that, and it might make for an interesting test!

Haha... so much for my big mouth and my constant couriosity. XD
Nah really now. Maybe you really discover heat problems. So perhaps it was okay to mention that and give you even more work to do. *j/k*

3. Custom unit pricing. Good ideas, but for right now, it is done on a custom order basis, so it is difficult to print a price list at this time with the options listed.

But you might consider this in the future? I'm pretty sure it can drag some "software only" users to get a Receptor just because of that. Out of 10 musicians I know (with different genres and needs, all are using mainly VSTi's only) around 3 are already taking a closer look at the unit. And of course the balance between "price" and "effort".

And personally I'd also be very interested in such offers. The competitor with Plugzilla had different prices once too (a unit with only 4in/out for 2599USD and a limited edition with 8in/out for 2995USD), then it went quiet around it.

4. UniWire: I guess I wasn't very clear... UniWire is schedule for release within the next month, so it will happen a lot sooner than you think, providing things go well in testing. And UniWire is FREE update to all Receptor users!

So a direct jump from v1.2, over v1.3beta to v1.4? Woha. And the VSTi is also free. What else do we want to have?

P.S. By the way, I didn't realize you were from Nurenberg. My wife and I visited there a couple of years ago. What a great City! There's also a great percussion store in town off the main store (I play drums). Great place!

You really visited Nurenberg? Hah... how small the world it. Maybe you mean "Musikhalle" in this case (behind the central train station). Basement Music doesn't exist anymore, Musik Oechsner (a bit centered in the "old town") also kinda removed the percussion section and all other small musicstores I know aren't really that interesting.

But good to see a fellow drummer - I'm still trying to earn some pocket money for a Roland TD-20 (cause I can't build up a real set here, too loud). And yeah... the "old town" is indeed a nice place. At least in some cases and not if it's christmas time (due to the tourists).


*hm... gotta check if BFD works on Receptor... would be a nice add on for a Roland TD-20 digital drumset. No extra PC to fire up with a host and stuff... possibilities... hm...*

But back on topic.

[Bryan@MuseResearch]

Okay, this is a bit off topic, but since drummers rule (can't wait for the flames from that one!) you'll be interested to know we have BFD working GREAT on Receptor, and we are working diligently to get DFH working as well.

I'm blown away with how great these two packages sound, and both are really appealling.

I have a KAT controller with Drum Tech pads at home (which I prefer over the Roland pads - its just a matter of personal taste) and I can't believe how good the combination of Receptor plus BFD / DFH sounds and more important, _feels_.

Despite how good the brains are of the electronic kits out these days, its just hard to beat (pardon the pun) a cymbal sampled with 24 bit precision that hasn't been looped or compressed. Some times brute force is really the best solution!

Sorry to hear about the closure of percussion shops. The place I was thining of was near old town, and yes, I must admit, I was one of those tourists stumbling around with a mug of Gluwein, mesmerized by all the lights... (sigh). In fact, I refuse to feel bad about being a tourist - Europe is an amazing place, and I always love visiting there. And besides, my wife is from England, so that only makes me a partial tourist, right? ;-)

[Compyfox]

Okay, this is a bit off topic, but since drummers rule (can't wait for the flames from that one!) you'll be interested to know we have BFD working GREAT on Receptor, and we are working diligently to get DFH working as well.

One single shoutout: YES!!!!

I might contact you private on those KAT controllers (never really heard of them) because the Roland is a bit short on cymbals. Just to share some opinions and stuff.

Not to let this go too much out of topic here. heh

Sorry to hear about the closure of percussion shops. The place I was thining of was near old town,

Hm... near old town... Then it was probably the "Musikhalle" from "Musik Klier". They have a second shop just for synths, PA and percussion. And no no... There're still percussion shops. But nothing really uber-special. I mourn more to the fact that hardware synths (especially rack expanders) are dying out.

and yes, I must admit, I was one of those tourists stumbling around with a mug of Gluwein, mesmerized by all the lights... (sigh). In fact, I refuse to feel bad about being a tourist - Europe is an amazing place, and I always love visiting there. And besides, my wife is from England, so that only makes me a partial tourist, right?

hahaha... Indeed. I just hope my LA visit will be also as interesting as my school trip in 1998 to England (Bournmouth). But this will still take a while. Also because I'm afraid of flying. XD


But please let us get back on topic. Like I said... maybe I'll contact you in private about all that.

I'm really curious about the tests and some other opinions about the stuff I mentioned earlier. However it's a it late in both of our places of living. So that can wait a little. heh.

[DocAtlas]

The USB 2.0 connection is not fast enough for samplers that stream from the hard drive. You could store all the samples that require streaming on the internal drive, and the samples that can be played from RAM on the external hard drive.

I'm not sure I understand why this can't work; it's exactly what I'm doing on my PC. I have an external USB 2.0 drive by Seagate, & I use it for streaming samples to Gigastudio & Kontakt 2, as well as my audio tracks in Sonar 5. I haven't had any problems yet. Maybe there's more going on with the Receptor than I know. At any rate, I'm budgeting for buying one with the 160 gig hard drive. Maybe I'll use an external drive for Sampletank & Sonik Synth; I'd better make sure to upgrade the ram, though.